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Lambton Public Health found more than 30 of the biting bothers during a tick drag in the provincial park in mid-May and more than half were the blacklegged (deer) variety that can carry Lyme-disease causing bacteria.

It's the first time a tick drag — using a cloth off trails along bushes and grasses to try and pick up the seed-sized arachnids for testing — has proven successful in Lambton County, said Lori Lucas, health protection supervisor with Lambton Public Health.

Meanwhile people are also turning in the blacklegged buggers from other places around Lambton County too, she said, and at a higher clip than in previous years.

“We're definitely seeing a lot more,” she said, noting almost 40% of the ticks found so far this year are blacklegged; the rest being the larger dog tick variety that isn't known to transmit Lyme disease.

It's a big increase, given in past years the number of blacklegged ticks was 2%-3% of the total number turned in, she said.

“We want residents to be aware and take precautions when they're in and around any of those areas,” Lucas said.

One of the reasons for the first-ever successful tick drag is the timing this year, she said. In past years, when the public health agency has tried collecting ticks, officials have gone later in the season.

Mid-may though is ideal, Lucas said.

“In the fall we'll definitely be planning some others,” she said, depending on the tick turn-in results throughout the summer.

The blacklegged arachnids that can carry Lyme disease are being tested for the bacteria that cause the potentially devastating neurological disorder, at the national biology laboratory in Winnipeg, Lucas said.

Results are expected back in a few months.

So far just one of the blacklegged ticks residents have submitted has been returned from testing — negative for Lyme disease.

With the evidence of more ticks in the area, Lambton Public Health is reminding people out and about in fields and forests where ticks are abundant, to wear light-coloured clothing that covers arms and legs, apply insect repellant, and do a tick check on people and pets after being out, paying special attention to the scalp, groin and armpits.

The risk of contracting Lyme disease is low within 24 hours of being bitten, Lucas said.

“If you have any symptoms or signs (fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, fatigue, red bull's eye skin rash) contact your physician and let them know you were in contact with a tick,” she said.

More information about Lyme disease and ticks is available from Lambton Public Health by calling 1-800-6671839 or visiting www.lambtonhealth.on.ca.